Reverend Leon Howard Brown Senior was called home to his eternal rest on March 23, 2024, after a long bout with colon cancer. Our beloved “PaPa Brown” was blessed to see 92 years, born on December 6, 1931. He is welcomed into the glory of heaven by his parents, Oretha (nee Dawson) and John W. Brown Sr.; 11 of his 13 siblings; and his dear daughters, Phyllis Maynard (Jessie Maynard) and Belynda Sanders (Lindsey Sanders). He leaves behind, waiting for reunion, his cherished wife of 70 years, Mae E. Brown (nee Irvin); his only son Leon H. Brown Jr. (Carla Brown); grandchildren, Michelle Anderson (Tom Anderson), Mycal Brown (Katie Gartner), Seth Sanders, and Matthew Brown; his sister, Delores Saunders (late Russell Saunders); and a host of nieces,    nephews and friends.

As an enterprising young man in the early 1950s, Leon moved to Ohio from his birthplace in West Virginia, became an ordained minister with a church home at the Church of God M.P.G.T. in Akron, and eventually settled in Medina. He built his own home in that small town, and lived in the area for the remainder of his life. He worked in Medina at Henry Furnace and later Dolly Madison/Smucker, then he was blessed to receive a job at Ford Motor Company in Brook Park. “Rev” became well-known throughout the factory as much for his joviality and joy of life as his exceptional work ethic, sound counsel, and walking humbly with his Lord.

He was a devout man of God, and in his ministerial duties he traveled throughout the Midwest on church founding and evangelistic missions for decades, while still working full time. Over the years as his family grew, they traveled with him. He was a gifted musician who could play practically any instrument he picked up, and the family praised the Lord with song everywhere they went.

Reverend Brown became an Elder and the Director of Music in the national church body, and in the early 1980s, when it was decided that a church would be founded in Medina, he was installed as Pastor. He balanced his pastoral role with full time work and family vacations until he retired from Ford in 1990. He served as a Medina County Jail chaplain for many years, and he continued to lead the Medina church until 2020. He was a dutiful husband, dedicated father and grandfather, a pillar of the community, and a righteous man of God who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Home-Going services will be held at Church of God M.P.G.&T., 200 Cole Ave, Akron OH 44301 on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, with a viewing hour at 11 am to noon, and the funeral service immediately following, from noon until our tears and praises are exhausted.